Urgent Bite 319 – Opioid Side Effects
We commonly see opioid side effects. But there are some we may not have been aware of that we should keep in mind in patients who have been taking opioids for more than a month.
Urgent Bite 318 – Topical Steroids via Urgent Care
Steroids are commonly prescribed through urgent care, but we must be mindful about adding to innapropriate use and inadvertent misuse by patients.
Patients must be clear about how much to apply, and how often it must be used. They need to be aware of the potency of each preparation. Changes to labelling in 2028 in NZ will help to show how strong each cream is.
Urgent Bite 317 – Splenomegaly
The spleen, once thought to be the seat of anger, can indicate many different underlying diagnoses and palpating it in urgent care is important.
Urgent Bite 316 – Sinusitis antibiotic choice
A recent large study in JAMA showed amoxicillin is as effective as augmentin for treating sinusitis. Which tallies with our national antibiotic guideline advice. It is important to recognise, sinusitis does not usually require antibiotic therapy.
Urgent Bite 315 – Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a genetic connective tissue disorder that can affect many body systems. It is important to understand how it might intersect with urgent care both as a cause of certain presentations and a factor impacting treatment and management of some UC presentations.
Urgent Bite 314 – Intertrigo
Intertrigo is a common presentation to urgent care. Caused by rubbing skin in the presence of moisture it can be concurrent and complicated with bacterial and fungal infections. Targeted, accurate treatment is best, but it is not always obvious which cause is present.
Urgent Bite 313 – Alternate analgesia for dental pain
While alternative, natural remedies for toothache seem effective, we must remember that they are not without their potential problems.
Urgent Bite 312 – Pull out all the stops
While a grand pipe organ has the capacity to pull out all the stops, it is not wise to play it in that state all the time. Not unlike an urgent care clinician working at 100% for too long.
Urgent Bite 311 – Depressed Skull Fracture
Head Injuries need a thorough and consistent workup in urgent care, which includes looking for signs of depressed skull fracture.
Urgent Bite 310 – A world first – celebrating 25 years
Biliary type pain, usually in female patients who have had a cholecystectomy, could be Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. A diagnosis worth keeping on our urgent care differential list.